The Chattanooga City Council approved 8-1 Tuesday night a public hearing for a proposed new regional wastewater authority, which initially would consist of the city's sewer and stormwater departments.

Councilwoman Deborah Scott voted against the proposal, saying the public needs more time to study the plans for the authority and calling a more in-depth description.

"They need to have a proposal of some sort," she said.

Other council members said the public hearing was the start of the discussion and not the end.

Councilman Jack Benson said the hearing would act as a gateway for public discussion and would be an informational meeting for the public.

"This is really an exploratory thing," he said.

Mayor Ron Littlefield has proposed creating a wastewater authority called the Cleanwater Alliance. He said the authority would act as the nucleus for any other wastewater or water providers in the region to latch onto.

The public hearing is set for 6 p.m. Dec. 12 at the City Council building.

Contact staff writer Cliff Hightower at chightower@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6480. Follow him at twitter.com/cliffhightower or facebook.com/cliff.hightower.